Electric razor having suction means therefor



Aug. 30, 1955 A. K. PETERSON 2,716,279

ELECTRIC RAZOR HAVING SUCTION MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 26, 1952 ALB/N E, PETEQsoM IN V EN TOR.

l' BY 91,644

United States Patent O ELECTRIC RAZOR HAVHG SUC'HN M'EANS THEREFR Albin K. Peterson, Torrance, Calif.

Application January 26, 1952, Serial No. 268,359

4 Claims. (Cl. Sil-41.5)

This invention relates to an electric razor or dry shaver and more particularly to an improved electric razor which embodies suction means for collecting particles of cut hair and skin matter removed by the razor from the skin surface of an individual using the razor. This application is a continuation-in-part of an application tiled July 26,

1947, Serial No. 763,825, now Patent No. 2,590,452, granted March 25, 1952.

Numerous types of electric razors or dry shavers have been heretofore provided and in which various forms of cutting heads have been employed for severing hair particles from the skin surface. Some of the severed hair particles and dry skin akes or foreign matter on the skin surface were often drawn into the nasal passages, throat, and lungs by breathing and sometimes were thrown into the eyes, causing irritation and discomfort. Prior razors permitted some skin and hair particles to fall freely upon the shoulder and neck portions of the operator. Since an electric razor provides a means for shaving a skin surface without loosening the neck band of the shirt of the wearer, these hair particles and dried skin fell upon the clothes of the wearer and were required to be removed as by brushing the clothes, shave was performed, it was necessary to partially remove the clothes in order to completely brush these unsightly particles from the clothing.

The present invention contemplates an electric razor provided with suction means associated therewith which will prevent hair particles and dry skin particles from falling freely away from the face of the user of the razor. The invention contemplates that the cut hair particles and other matter from the skin surface will be drawn into the body of the electric razor and collected in a receptacle provided therein for convenient disposal at a later time. While the present invention is illustrated as being associated with a mechanical razor of the particular structure disclosed in my copeuding application, it is understood that the suction means illustrated herein may be utilized with other types of mechanical and electric razors.

lt is therefore a primary object of this invention to design and provide an electric razor that will operate to cut the hair on the face of an operator with fewer strokes than those required by prior-proposed razors and to provide meansfor collecting the cut hair particles within the body of the razor.

Another object of this invention is to design and provide an electric razor having outer skin contacting apertured elements arranged to move relatively and to impart a twisting and massaging action to the skin in contacting therewith while drawing cut hair particles through the apertured skin contacting elements.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanical razor having the above characteristics wherein a passageway is provided beneath the oscillating skin contacting apertured elements and an inner apertured cutting head, said passageway leading to a removable receptacle carried in the body of the razor.

When a quick dry reference characters refer to like parts.

2,716,279 Patented Aug. 30, 1955 Nice,

A still further object of this invention is to design and provide an electric razor wherein suction means are provided in the body of the razor and wherein the suction means includes fan means operable by the motor which drives the oscillating skin contacting elements and inner cutting head.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an electric razor having the above characteristics composed of relatively few parts, compact, durable, efficient in operation, and comparatively cheap to manufacture.

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates the provision of suction means including a turbine type fan operable within the body of the razor and adapted to createv suction through a passageway which is in communication with the apertured inner and outer cutting heads so that ne cut particles of hair and skin matter are drawn through the outer and inner apertured cutting elements and through the passageway for deposit in a removable receptacle carried in the body of the razor. The action of the suction means contributes to the effectiveness of the facial massage received when shaving with the razor of the present invention.

The above and other objects will be made apparent by further description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like It is distinctly understood that the drawings illustrate an exemplary form of an embodiment of the invention.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a vertical plane virtually longitudinally bisecting an electric razor embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view taken from the left of the, frag- .entary portion of the razor shown in Fig. l.

Fig. `3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a cutting head assembly used with the razor shown in Fig.l l.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in a vertical transverse plan indicated by the line IV-IV .n of rig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in a vertical transverse plane indicated by line V-V of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line VI-Vl of Fig. l showing an exemplary gear drive means,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a modified drive means for the cutting head assembly.

The exemplary razor embodying thisy invention may comprise a handle, body or housing 1l) made of any desired material and suitable contour.

Within the housing and adjacent the bottom thereof, as viewed in Fig. l, may be provided a chamber 11 enclosing and in which may be mounted a suitable electric motor 12. The upper end of the housing 1i) is recessed at 13 to provide a space for receiving a base 14 of a holder 15 for a oscillating movement of the cutting head assembly as later described. Each cover 17 and 18 may be providedV with an inwardly extending lip 19 and 20 overlying end edges of the cutting assembly 16. The end covers may be secured to the housing 10 by any suitable retaining means (not shown).

The holder 15 may be provided with upstanding paralzontal projections or keys 23 and 24, respectively. Keys 23 and 24 are adapted to slidingly lit into horizontal recesses or grooves 25 and 26, respectively, provided in outer` side walls of an outer substantially hollow cutting head formed ofV two parts 27 and 28. The outer cutting head may be formed with a uniform continuous slightly convex face contacting surface and is divided vertically along longitudinal central lines 29 and 30 lying in a vertical plane longitudinally bisecting the assembly 16. The opposed upper edges of the outer cutting head parts 27. and 28 terminate in downwardly extending iianges 31 and 32. Flanges 31 and 32 are adapted to project into a transverse recess 33 provided centrally and longitudinally of a one-piece inner cutting element 34 which slidably fits Within parts 27 and 28 of the outer cutting head. The inner cutting element 34 may be provided with a series of transverse slots 35 forming a plurality of cutting edges 36 in sliding contact with the lower surfaces of the face contacting portions of the outer cutting head. Each face contacting portion on parts 27 and 28 is v.provided with a plurality of transversely arranged depressions or grooves 37 having inwardly and downwardly inclined walls leading to hair receiving transversely extending slots 38.

As mentioned above, the holder 15 is held in fixed relation to housing in recess 13. Drive means for oscillating the inner cutting element 34 may be provided by a drive shaft 40 extending upwardly from motor 12 and terminating in an elongated longitudinal recess 41 provided in bottom khorizontal portions of parts 27 and 28 of the outer cutting head. The upper end of shaft 40 may be provided with an eccentric pin 42 which extends into a transversely disposed slot 43 formed in the bottom Wall of the inner cutting element 34. The shaft 40 may be supported by bearings in spaced openings 44 and 45 formed in housing 10, said spaced openings lying on opposite sides of a horizontally disposed chamber 46 formed in the housing 10. f

. As. shaft 40 is rotatably driven by the motor 12, the eccentric pin 42 engaging slot 43 in the bottom wall of the inner cutting head 34 will cause the inner cutting head 34 to oscillate. The width of slot 43 is substantially the diameter of the eccentric pin 42 so that the eccentric pin 42 may slide therewithin during the rotation of the shaft 40.

Means for oscillating the parts 27 and 28 of the outer cutting head simultaneously and in opposite directions are provided by a countershaft 47 disposed parallel to shaft 40 within a vertically arranged bore 48 formed in housing 10. The countershaft 47 may be journaled in bore 48 and extends through chamber 46 for journaled support in a-recess 49 formed in the housing 10 below chamber 46. The portion of countershaft 47 lying within the chamber 46 may be provided with Worm threads 50 formed on the surface of the shaft, said threads 50 meshing with threads V51 formed adjacent one end of a horizontal stub shaft 52. The stub shaft 52 may be journaled in housing 10 as at 53 and 54 and extendsy between the countershaft 47 and the main drive shaft 40. The opposite end of stub shaft 52 may be provided with worm threads 55 meshed with corresponding worm threads 56 provided on the adjacent portion of the shaft 40. It should be noted that each of the worm threaded portions formed on the countershaft 47, the stub shaft 52, and the main shaft 40 are formed on the outer cylindrical surface of said shafts and by selecting suitable pitches for said threads a wide range of gear ratios may be attained.

The upper end of countershaft 47 is provided with gear 57 lying within a recess 58 formed in the base 14 of holder 15. The upper end of countershaft 47 is provided with an eccentric pin 59 which extends upwardly into a recess 60 transversely arranged .in the bottom wall of part 28 of the outer cutting head for` 4 oscillating the part 28 upon rotation of the countershaft 47.

Also provided within recess 58 is a gear' 61 meshed with gear 57, said gear 61 carrying an eccentric pin 62 received within a transversely arranged recess 63 formed in the bottom Wall of part 27 of the outer cutting head for oscillation of part 27.

Since the gears 57 and 61 are in meshed relation, they Y will rotate in opposite directions and eccentric pins 59 and 62 will operate to oscillate the outer parts 23 and 27, respectively, in opposite directions. The parts 27 and 28 are held in position Within the holder 15 by means of the keys 23 and 24 received within the grooves 25 and 26, respectively. Also depending lianges 31 and 32 on the top wall portions of parts 27 and 28 extend into the longitudinal groove 33 in the upper central portion of the inner cutting element for holding parts 27 and 28 in position. All of the reciprocating parts are actuated in response to the single main shaft 40 and the differential effected by the worm vgears Vcarried by the drive shaft 40, stub shaft 52, and countershaft 47 operate to oscillate the parts 27 and 28 at a predetermined slower speed than the oscillating speed of the inner cutting element 34 thereby effecting relative movements betweenthe parts 27 and 28 and inner cutting element 34 at all times during operation of the device.

The suction means for drawing cut hair particles through the slots or apertures provided in parts 27 and 28 and inner cutting element 34 includes a port 7i) provided in the end cover 17 in alignment with the hollow interior of the inner cutting element 34. The bottom wall of the inner cutting element 34 adjacent to end cover 18 may be provided with a vertically disposed port 71, said port 71 communicating with aligned ports 72 and 73 formed in adjacent portions of the bottom walls of the parts 27 and 28 and the base 14 of holder 15. The passageway formed by the ports 71, 72 and 73 opens into an enlarged horizontal chamber`74 formed in housing 1t), said chamber 74 being partially divided by a transverse partition wall 75.

Partition wall-75 provides a support for a removable basket or receptacle 76V adapted to collect cut hair particles and other miscellaneous matter drawn through the cutting t assembly and the passageway. The basket 76 may be removed through opening 77 which is normally covered by a door 78 which maybe pivoted about a securing screw 79 at one corner extending into the endV cover 18. The

diagonally opposite corner of the door 78 may be provided with a detent S0 cooperable with a small recess formed on the outer surface of the housing 10. The door may thus be pivoted to one side to permit removal and emptying of the basket 76.

The partition wall 75 at its inner edge forms with the housing 10 a throat 81 within which may be mounted a blade type or turbine type fan 82 secured to the main drive shaft4). Below Wall 75,'the chamber 74 is provided with a discharge opening 83 for unrestricted passage of air therethrough.

In operation, it will be readily understood that the cutting head assembly 16 comprising the oppositely oscillating outer skin contacting apertured parts 27 and 28 and the independently oscillatable inner apertured cutting element 34 will effectively cut hair particles received within the hair receiving slots in the manner Vparticularly described in my copending application. r[he oscillating twopiece outer head effectively embodies a massaging and twisting action to the skin. During oscillation, the fan 82 Vis rotated by the drive shaft 40 and creates `a strong ow of air through port in end cover 17, through the hollow inner cutting element 34, and through the pas-k sageway formed by ports 71, 72 and 73.V Cut hair particles are deposited in the wire mesh basket 76k while the air ypasses through said basket and is discharged through the opening 83. v

'While a basket 76 made entirely of wire mesh is illustrated, it is understood that other suitable receptacle means may be provided which will permit the collection of the hair particles and removed skin particles (such as dried or dead skin matter, akes, powder, and the like) while permitting air to be drawn through a screening device in said receptacle. It is also understood that the receptacle 76 need not be removed when empty since when the door 78 is opened, tilting of the razor to one side will effectively cause discharge of the cut hair particles and dried skin matter. It is desirable from time to time to remove the receptacle 76 in order to clean the meshes thereof so that the fan may electively draw air therethrough. The construction of a razor as above-described is such that the hair particles are not permitted to be deposited adjacent operating parts of the razor. 'Ihus the gear means for driving the oscillating parts do not become clogged by the drawing of the hair particles into the body of the razor.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modied drive means wherein a main drive shaft 40 and a transverse stub shaft 52 is arranged as in the prior embodiment. In this drive means a pair of countershafts 90 having worm threads 91 meshed with worm threads 51 on opposite sides of one end portion of stub shaft 52' extend upwardly in parallel relation for oscillating the parts 27 and 28 of the outer cutting head. Each shaft has an eccentric pin at its upper end engaging transverse slots in the bottom walls of the parts 27 and 28. Thus the parts 27 and 28 are oscillated in opposite directions. Only one shaft 90 may be employed if it is desired that one part of the outer cutting head remain stationary while the other part is reciprocally driven by shaft 90. The receptacle may be attached to a suitable cover for closing the opening 77 so that the receptacle and cover may be removed and inserted as one unit.

It should be noted that the suction provided by fan 82 not only prevents cut hair particles and removed skin matter from falling upon the neck, shoulders, and shirt of the user but also contributes to the massage action of the outer cutting head upon the skin surface and thus assists in the guiding and drawing of hair into the hair receiving slots in the outer cutting head for cutting.

While a preferred form of the present invention has been illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art various changes may be made in the exemplary form shown. Other modications, additions, substitutions, and omissions may be made in the exemplary form without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims and all such modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. In a razor having a body portion, an elongated open-ended apertured hollow cutting head assembly and drive means therefor, the provision of: means forming a transversely disposed chamber in said body portion and having an opening in one side of the body portion; means forming a passageway between said apertured hollow cutting head assembly and said chamber; a transverse partition wall in said chamber forming a throat with the body portion and defining a discharge opening for said chamber below said wall; receptacle means carried by the wall below said passageway and provided with a screen portion; closure means vfor the opening of said chamber above said wall; and suction fan means operable in said throat and driven by said drive means.

2. A razor as recited in claim l wherein said hollow open-ended cutting head assembly is provided with a means closing at least one end thereof.

3. In a razor including a drive means the combination of: a housing for said drive means; means forming a chamber at one end of said housing; a hollow cutting head assembly carried at one end of said housing and operably connected to said drive means; said cutting head assembly including a ported end Wall leading to the interior of said hollow cutting head assembly and means forming an inlet passageway at the end of said assembly opposite to said ported end wall communicating with said chamber; a partition wall in said chamber defining with said housing a narrow throat and a discharge passageway from said throat to a side discharge opening below said partition wall; a suction fan operably carried in said throat by said drive means for drawing cut hair particles from the cutting head assembly through said inlet passageway into the chamber, and removable receptacle means carried by said partition Wall beneath said inlet passageway forcollecting hair particles drawn therethrough.

4. In a razor including a drive means, the combination of: a housing for said drive means; means forming a chamber within said housing; a hollow cutting head assembly carried at one end of said housing and operably connected to said drive means; said cutting head assembly including a ported end wall leading to the interior of said hollow cutting head assembly and means forming an inlet passageway at the end of the assembly opposite to said ported end wall communicating with said chamber; a removable receptacle means positioned within said chamber to collect hair particles drawn through said inlet passageway; and a suction fan operably carried by said drive means within said housing to draw cut hair particles from the cutting head assembly through said inlet passageway into said chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,730,004 Gregson Oct. l, 1929 2,129,559 Blackwell Sept. 6, 1938 2,388,324 Holcomb Nov. 6, 1945 2,590,452 Peterson Mar. 25, 1952 

